Meet Ericka.

One of my favourite people on the planet, and a truly exceptional, extraordinary lady.

At five years old, Ericka was left to die alongside her two younger brothers.

Locked in a small shack in Guatemala, with little if any light, no food and only a trace of water, time was running out. Fast.

Heartbreakingly, Ericka and her brothers were not abandoned and left to die by kidnappers or drug barons. 

No, this unimaginable act of cruelty was perpetrated by her own mother.

Five days passed before the children were found.

Somehow, Ericka did whatever she could: she fed herself and her brothers a diet of dirt and ants to stay alive.

Growing up in poverty in Guatemala, she was frequently abused by her mother and stepfather. Anyone could forgive Ericka Kelly for becoming one of life’s victims.

She, however, had very different ideas, as you’re about to discover.

After her ordeal, Ericka and her brothers were raised by her grandmother, until, at the age of twelve, her mother returned, with her stepfather in toe, to take back custody of the children she’d abandoned.

Ericka and her brothers then walked on foot, for three weeks, without any money, from Guatemala to the US (where her stepfather lived).

There, she discovered w whole new world of wonder.

“Everything was a discovery to us. Seeing a home with multiple rooms, electricity and modern conveniences were revelations because we were so primitive”.

Through a broad smile, she recalls, “My brothers and I were playing with light switches, turning them on and off, because we thought it was magic.”

Ericka was thirteen when her working life began. She’d send as much money as she could back to her grandmother in Guatemala.

Still in the care of her abusive mother and step father, life at home was no bed of roses. At sixteen, her mother threw her out. Ericka had nowhere to go. She was homeless.

Still a teenager, she met the man who became her first husband. He, too, was an abuser, both physically and mentally. He’d drill it into Ericka’s consciousness that she was “worthless”.

Despite life throwing all this abuse her way, Ericka wasn’t the “caving-in” kind. She’d already proven she was made of far sterner stuff.

She joined the US Air Force, and rose from being a flight medic in war torn countries to becoming a Chief Master Sergeant – the highest 1% of the enlisted ranks.

If her story ended there, Ericka would be a hero to us all. But it doesn’t end there. There was more. So much more.

That little girl left to die by her own mother? That little girl digging in the dirt for ants to sustain the lives of her and her brothers?

The girl who faced abuse at every turn by those she should have felt the safest of all, with?

She became Command Chief Master Sergeant, with 76,000 people under her leadership.

The same little girl locked up in the shack and left to die became the lady personally invited to share her expertise with the most senior officials in both the White House and Pentagon.

And still there’s more.

Because her service to her adopted country didn’t end when she retired from the military.

When it was time to bring that chapter to a close, the flame of Ericka’s desire to contribute to others still burned brightly.

In time, she discovered Coaching – not the grossly misrepresented version of the word perpetrated by the uninitiated and immoral – but the true, authentic, transformative purity and sanctity of the real Coaching process.

As Ericka puts it, she “fell in love”.

Today, Ericka brings her story, exemplary leadership and profound Coaching ability to help women between the age of thirty to fifty successfully navigate the difficult transitions which often occur in these years: divorce, career-change, menopause etc., etc.

Given her extraordinary ability to transition between worlds a million miles apart, those fortunate enough to be counted amongst her clients are in the very best of hands.

As I’ve often said, in a world awash with falsity and self-appointed motivational “gooroos”, there is nothing more inspiring than so-called “ordinary” people living extraordinary lives, contributing to a far better world.

Ericka Kelly has more leadership qualities than the vast majority who preach on the subject. 

At the Conscious Coaching Academy™, we’re immensely proud to have Ericka in our ranks as one of our Founding Members.

She joined us because, despite being exposed to my body of work in another organisation, she wanted to take her Coaching ability to the highest levels, and to have the professional credentials via our Elite Influencer Coaching Accreditation™ to prove it. 

Like so many of our ex-military members (about 35% of CCA members are represented by that demographic), she epitomises one of my most well known mantras: that becoming a true Coach, with the ability to bring transform lives, is 99% about who you are, and 1% technique.

That’s why Ericka Kelly’s extraordinary story is featured in our forthcoming book The Elite Influencers of the Coaching Industry™, because in the murky waters of this profession, where charlatanism and frauds stand at every corner, who you hire is crucial.

At the time of writing, I’ll shortly have the pleasure of awarding Ericka her prize – the industry-leading, award-winning accreditation she’s worked so hard to achieve.

Yet another amazing achievement in what is already an extraordinary life.

And, as you’ve gathered by now, Ericka is far from done in making it even more extraordinary.

That’s why she’s with us.

Warmly,

Christian

P.S. The far fuller version of Ericka’s story features in my forthcoming book “The Elite Influencers of the Coaching Industry™ – you should pre-order or pick up a copy (depending on when you red this article) by clicking here

P.P.S. Remember, if, like Ericka and her colleagues at the Conscious Coaching Academy™, you’re serious about enjoying a richly rewarding, deeply fulfilling and highly lucrative career in the Coaching profession, and you’re ready to explore how to make it happen, here are three ways to start the process:

1: Watch Elite Influencer, Elite Impact™.

Go to the footer of this post and register for almost instant access.

Elite Influencer, Elite Impact™ is a profoundly powerful, 50-minute masterclass which not only reveals how the very best in this profession enjoy careers of far more influence, far more impact and far more income, it also reveals what you need to know to make it happen in your career.

It’s free to access, and no, there is no “sales pitch” coming your way. Just the eye-opening insight most of this profession will never know, the industry leading, award-winning methodology behind the Elite Influencers of the Coaching profession, and the next step if you’re ready to explore if following in their footsteps is the right fit for you and your career aspirations.

2: Join me live in The Iconic Coach: Become a Highly Sought After Expert in Transformation™

A priceless, unmissable career-defining event awaits you in this one-of-a-kind, globally acclaimed online training experience. 

Discover everything this extraordinary session contains, and join the pre-registration list by clicking this link.

3: Have the Deeper Conversation

If you’re ready to explore the fit between your aspirations and our unique, award winning methodology, let’s have the deeper conversation about you, your career and your future in a personal, one-to-one consultation. 

Find out more by clicking here.